Windber stages elaborate mock accident to warn of the dangers of drunken driving

May 02, 2013|By SANDY WOJCIK | Daily American Correspondent

WINDBER — It may have been a mock demonstration, but the Every 30 Minutes program at Windber Area High School on Thursday brought goosebumps to many of the spectators.

The nationally recognized program takes place during two days to demonstrate the physical and emotional devastation that can result from drinking or texting while driving.

Danielle Walsh, president of the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions club, said she first saw the demonstration three years ago when she was a freshman.

"This year being involved with the program has really made an impact," she said. "This year we are really going to prom — and seeing this you learn how it can impact your life pretty quick."

Walsh was assisted by Kallie Erickson, a junior and vice president of SADD. Joe Podrebarac is the club's adviser.

The program started Thursday morning and continued every 30 minutes through 12:15 p.m. when selected students were tapped by the "Grim Reaper" to leave their classes. This represented a life that is taken every 30 minutes because of drunken driving. Walsh said when the "deceased" students' obituaries were read over the school's sound system, it had an impact. The "deceased" students returned to class with their faces painted white and sat in silence.

At 12:45 p.m. Amanda Tessari, a Paint Township police officer and the school's resource officer, announced that a mock crash had taken place. The Windber fire department and Northern EMS answered the call for the demonstration.

Tessari arrested the mock driver, who was arraigned by Cambria County District Judge Max Pavlovich. The demonstration included transporting mock victims to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Participating students were transported off site for the night to simulate the void they would leave if they had been killed.

The students produced a video about their experience, which will be shared today during an assembly. During the assembly "deceased" students will read letters they had written to their parents the night before. Their parents will have the opportunity to read similar letters to their children.

Walsh said the program could not have been successful without the help of everyone.

"All the police and other volunteers donated their time," she said. "We couldn't have done it without them."